hall-effect sensor for variable hi hat control

[Sabre]

I think that this design is much easier, than optical or potentiometer controller.

I agree, very nicely done.

How well does it work as a controller?

[Roman]

Works very well.
At first there was a signal trembling. For struggle against it I have put the capasitor 0.47 between an exit of the sensor and the ground. And this problem has completely disappeared.
Still it is necessary to remember that the sensor(ss495) - the electrostatic sensitivity device. For protection it is necessary to use protective diodes.
And still i think better(more conveniently) to use the unipolar sensor(ss495 is bipolar). But it not so essentially.

[radioactiveman]

So what does a more sensitive sensor mean - you need less of a magnet or it's more likely to catch some interference?

I'm looking to order this from mouser. Can anyone familiar with this design OK the sensor here?
http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=SS495Avirtualkey67810000virtualkey785-SS495A

I would love to not have to design something as complicated as racer did if I don't have to...

[Roman]

ss495 will work well. This sensor well works with a magnet diameter 15 mm thickness 5 mm(it is everything that I know about it).

[radioactiveman]

I was able to find the Allegro UGN3503U at futurlec (link) for those of you in the U.S. that need a cheap way to purchase of one of these.

My first problem - I think I'm getting 5V on the ring of my megadrum hihat pedal - is that expected? I thought it was supposed to be supplied on the tip.

Next - I think I connected the IC incorrectly the first time I hooked it up. Could that fry the IC and make it unusable? I really should have ordered two...

[jman 31]

I was able to find the Allegro UGN3503U at futurlec (link) for those of you in the U.S. that need a cheap way to purchase of one of these.

My first problem - I think I'm getting 5V on the ring of my megadrum hihat pedal - is that expected? I thought it was supposed to be supplied on the tip.

Next - I think I connected the IC incorrectly the first time I hooked it up. Could that fry the IC and make it unusable? I really should have ordered two...

Yes you can get 5v from the tip or the ring depending on which one you put the hi-hat polarity jumper on.

Yes you can definitely fry an IC by hooking it up wrong, but try it anyways it may be fine.

[CyberFly]

Can anyone help me pick the right parts? I need help on the sensor and magnets.
There are so many parts to pick from, help please.

If you can find the right parts on this web shop please post the part no.
http://www1.conrad-uk.com

-=edit=-
I'm converting a kick (bass drum) pedal so I don't need magnets with holes in them.

[kimouette]

Here is something I should have posted a long time ago!!!

See the album here : http://picasaweb.google.com/Kim.Tanguay ... fectSensor
And here's the text that goes with the album :

Many months ago, I promised someone I would TRY to explain my hall effect sensor setup.
So here it is! But before I do so, here are important points you should keep in mind :

- Even in french I would have a hard time trying to explain the whole process, so in English, good luck understanding!
- I am only using the top cymbal of my hi-hat (too many false signals when I was using both top and bottom hats)
- By adding pieces of foam on the base of the hi-hat's rod, I managed to make it steady : it can move fluidly up and down, but it cant spin nor move from side-to-side
- My current setting works perfectly FOR ME. I am definitely not trying to prove this is the best way to work it out
- The process of "creating" that setup took a while and the result is actually made of reflections like : "OK, this is not working, let's cut it a little more" or "OK, this is not working, lets ad another piece of that.."
In other words, this is not a tutorial! There is no way I could clearly explain how each piece of material was used, cut or put into place.
This is an arty-crafty method... that works!
.......

- First thing i did, was to test the hall effect sensor with the magnet : I noticed with MCT that the magnet had to ALMOST touch the sensor if I wanted to have a good "signal range"

- I cut the three little legs of the sensor so it would fit into an extra piece of felt I added on the top of the lower cymbal's felt. That way, the sensor is smaller so it will never touch the "tilter mechanism"

- So the sensor is standing in an upright position : the "head" of the sensor is stuck into a piece of hard rubber, while its legs (and the 3 cables soldered to its legs), are passing through the felt, then into the tilter mechanism's original hole

- As you can see on the pictures, the rubber was hand-cut (LOL I know it's ugly!), but the goal here was to protect the sensor from moving and also from being crushed by the magnet as you press the pedal

- To give it a more elegant aspect I chose to tape the whole thing with some cheap beige tape that is naturally peeling off (you might not want to do that)

- I have also "sculpted" a piece of rubber for the magnet (again, to prevent it from crushing the sensor)

- Once the magnet and the top cymbal are in place on the rod, the magnet will automatically be attracted by the piece of metal under the cymbal (sorry I have no idea how that thing is called, see the pictures). Since it is attracted by that "thing", the magnet is steady and will naturally follow the movement of the hi-hat pedal.


This is it! Of course you'll have to play with your MD hh pedal settings a little bit, but personally, even with that sloppy look, I find this setup very robust (not afraid to break anything) and flexible (not physically limited by any box or mechanism that wont let me chose the distance between "open" and "closed" signal).

I have tried a potentiometer on my hi-hat's pedal and also an optical controller, but i think the hall-effect sensor is as close as I can get to a natural response.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Kim.Tanguay ... fectSensor

[CyberFly]

Could somebody make a mini FAQ on how to build the circuit, please?
Just a list of parts and a schematic to build it. A picture or two of the completed circuit would be great!
I don't have much knowledge on electronics so can't do it by myself.

I'm willing to order the needed parts and build the circuit with your help. This way I will have a working hi hat controller and the forum will get the mini FAQ. Everybody wins!

[CyberFly]

Bump!

Could somebody help me find the parts in the Conrad webshop?
http://www1.conrad-uk.com